Communications Toolkit
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The Communications Toolkit is the main source for communication and document templates, ranging from newsletters to presentations. Each template is customizable to meet the unique needs of schools, programs and departments. This toolkit also includes template letters for common school situations and Blackboard Connect (Mass Notifications) guidelines.
Logo Guidelines
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Partners of Saint Paul Public Schools can request to use the district logo on their website, in publications and for other uses. Please submit a request to use the SPPS logo and include how and where it will be used. A district representative will respond and share the logo files with you if your request is approved.
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Proper Logo Spacing
Proper Logo Spacing
The logos should be no smaller than the 2" wide for the horizontal version and no smaller than 3/4" for the vertical version.
Always keep a clear space around each logo. The minimum amount of space surrounding each logo should be no less than the character height of the capitalized letter “S” (in “Schools”) in the logo.
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Department Logos
Our logo is the most immediate representation of SPPS and our brand. In order to keep are brand strong, departments are required to use the SPPS logo and are not allowed to create their own.
Proper Use of Logo for Departments
Department name should be placed on the side or below the logo.
Department Name Department Name
Branding Guidelines
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Color Palette
Primary Colors
Pantone 7461 C
CMYK 72/28/0/0
RGB 1/148/211
#0194d3
Pantone 7472 C
CMYK 60/0/25/5
RGB 84/187/189
#74cbc8
Pantone 583 C
CMYK 23/0/100/17
RGB 176/188/34
#b0bc22
Secondary Colors
Pantone Purple C
CMYK 38/88/0/0
RGB 165/67/153
#a54399
Pantone 346 C
CMYK 55/0/47/0
RGB 115/198/161
#73c6a1
Pantone Red 032
CMYK 0/90/86/0
RGB 239/65/53
#ef4135
Pantone 2935 C
CMYK 100/46/0/0
RGB 0/118/192
#0076c0
Pantone 361 C
CMYK 69/0/100/0
RGB 84/185/72
#54b948
Pantone 207 C
CMYK 0/100/43/19
RGB 198/6/81
#c60651
Pantone 109 C
CMYK 0/14/100/0
RGB 255/214/0
#ffdd00
Pantone 151 C
CMYK 0/65/98/0
RGB 244/121/35
#f89728
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Typography
Saint Paul Love
Handcrafted typeface dubbed “Saint Paul Love” has been created exclusively for SPPS. These should already be on your computer. Use these typefaces primarily for titles and headers and to draw particular attention.
Arial
Use this typeface for body copy in web and print pieces.
Arial Regular
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ | abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Arial Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ | abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Arial Bold
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ | abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Arial Bold Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ | abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Other Acceptable Fonts
- Calibri
- Times New Roman
- Proxima Nova
Blackboard Connect (Mass Notifications)
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Blackboard Connect is the district's system for communicating with families through automated phone calls, email and text messages. See below for the full SPPS Blackboard Connect Guidelines.
For translations, please use bilingual staff at your school. (This does not apply to emergency messages in which assistance is provided by the Office of Communications.
For immediate support sending a time-sensitive message to your families, contact:
The Office of Communications at 651-767-8110 or communications@spps.orgPlease designate two staff members to be your school's Blackboard Connect managers. If they are not familiar with the system, set up a training with the Office of Communications.
In addition, you may also contact Blackboard Connect's customer service at connectsupport@finalsite.com or call Blackboard Connect's help desk at 866-360-2155.
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Blackboard Connect Guidelines
One Here are the ways recipients can opt a family or staff member back into Blackboard:
- Phone: Recipients can call the opt-out hotline at 855-502-7867 from the phone number that was opted out.
- Email: To remove an email address from the opt-out list, go to Admin>Settings>Manage Opt-Outs. Click on the gray Manage Opt-Outs tab. Change Search Criteria to Email. Enter the full email address into the search engine and click Search. Hover over the listing and click the trash can icon to remove the email address from the opt-out list.
- SMS: If the recipient has opted out of receiving text messages, they can text " Subscribe SPPS" to the following shortcodes 23177, 63079, 82932, and 53291 to opt back in. Please ensure they send the text to all numbers to opt back in for an emergency and non-emergency messages.
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Opting Users Into Blackboard
For staff or families who have opted out of receiving messages accidentally, here are instructions to add them back to Blackboard.
Phone: Recipients can call the opt-out hotline at 855-502-7867 from the phone number that was opted out.
SMS: If the recipient has opted out of receiving text messages, they can text " Subscribe SPPS" to the following shortcodes, 23177, 63079, 82932, and 53291 to opt back in. Please ensure they send the text to all numbers to opt back in for emergency and non-emergency messages.
Email (for Blackboard managers only): To remove an email address from the opt-out list, go to Admin>Settings>Manage Opt-Outs. Click on the gray Manage Opt-Outs tab. Change Search Criteria to Email. Enter the full email address into the search engine and click Search. Hover over the listing and click the trash can icon to remove the email address from the opt-out list.
Templates
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You must be signed in to your stpaul.k12.mn.us Google account to access the templates listed below. Once signed in, you must "Make a Copy" or "Save to Your Drive" to edit your own version.
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Board of Education Listing for communication materials
If you need to list the Board of Education members on your brochures, newsletters or invitations, use these layouts with their names and titles.
Option #1
Board of Education
Jim Vue, Chair
Jessica Kopp, Vice-Chair
Halla Henderson, Clerk
Uriah Ward, Treasurer
Chauntyll Allen, Director
Zuki Ellis, Director
Jeanelle Foster, DirectorSuperintendent
Dr. Joe GothardOption #2
Board of Education
Jim Vue • Jessica Kopp • Halla Henderson • Uriah Ward
Chauntyll Allen • Zuki Ellis • Jeanelle Foster
Superintendent
Dr. Joe Gothard -
Email Signatures for Office 365
In an effort to standardize our branding across the district, the Office of Communications has created new email signatures to be incorporated into your Outlook 365 email settings. Two options are available below.
Highlight your signature of choice below, copy it and then paste into your Office 365 email signature.
For detailed instructions on how to highlight, copy and paste a signature into your Outlook 365 email, click here.
First and Last Name (pronoun optional)
Title, Department/School Name
Saint Paul Public Schools • Address, City, State, Zip
Office: ###-###-#### • Cell: ###-###-#### • Fax: ###-###-####
spps.orgFirst and Last Name (pronoun optional)
Title, Department/School Name
Community Education • Saint Paul Public Schools • Address, City, State, Zip
Office: ###-###-#### • Cell: ###-###-#### • Fax: ###-###-####
spps.org/commed -
Out of Office Messages